Trying to find the legal gcvw for an 89 f250

 

This is from the PS community, if you search for GCVW you will see it in the 1994.5-1997 powerstrokes, here is an excerpt. It summarizes most of the questions you have, which you actually need check with your state.

"A lot of specifics change from state to state. For instance in WV, the door tag is meaningless, they go specifically off what you register the vehicle for (taxes and all that).

As far as what the feds say: if you have a vehicle registered to you (an individual) or a farm, you can drive as much as 80,000 lbs (provided you conform to Federal Bridge law) without a CDL. The catch there is Bridge law; an F350 with a 40K trailer for example would probably not conform to bridge law.

If the vehicle towing (or being towed) does not fall into one of those two specific categories, the limit is calculated as follows:
Single vehicle: Manufacturer's GVWR (single vehicle) up to 26,000 lbs (or 26,000 lbs regardless of GVWR in some states like WV). This is probably why you got the ticket in the dump truck.
Combination Vehicle: GCVW (no R because R stands for rating) up to 26,000 with a maximum trailer gross weight of 14,000 lbs (trailers are rated by manufacturer only).
For example, if your tow vehicle weighed only 7,000 lbs empty (an F250), you can tow a trailer with a gross weight of 14,000 lbs. You'll notice though that combination only adds up to 21,000 lbs. However, if you were say, towing with a loaded 20,000 dump truck, the gross trailer weight would be limited to 6,000 lbs. Make sense?

For a business vehicle, any thing in excess of 26,000 or 14K trailer is CDL required. And believe me, you don't want to pay that fine!

Now that I've probably confused you further, I'll give you the simple answer. If you have a tow vehicle registered to you (or a farm), you can tow any trailer whose tongue weight (or tongue weight and vehicle payload) does not cause your tow vehicle to become over-loaded.

For instance, say you had a 14,000 lb goose neck trailer which has a tongue weight of 1,500 lbs (when properly loaded). 1,500 lbs would not cause a 250 (or 350) to have an overloaded axle per the manufacturer's nameplate rating. So your GCVW would be 14,000 + F250 so about 21,000 as we've already seen.

But, if you had a 20K TAG trailer with 3,000 lbs tongue weight (weird I know, but I have seen it). 3,000 lbs on the bumper of a 250 would cause the rear axle to be over-loaded, so you couldn't tow that trailer. But a 20K gooseneck would likely be back to 2,000 lbs tongue weight, and you'd be OK and your GCVW is 27K.

The maximum tongue weight and trailer gross weight are provided on the trailer nameplate. It is possible to have them altered, but you must contact your local DMV.

So, there really is no clear answer. Yes, Ford comes up with a tow rating for a truck. You'll see something like, 2011 F150 tow capacity of 11,230 lbs. I don't want to say that number is meaningless because it takes into account the structural design of the truck, and many other factors. But as far as registering a vehicle, it's pointless.

You know how much your trailer is rated for (because of the CDL laws, probably less than 14K), and you know how much your truck weighs empty. Add those two numbers together, and then add 1,000 lbs to account for fuel, passengers, etc. You'll be fine with that. Provided, the tongue weight of the trailer doesn't cause a truck axle to be overloaded.

My 2WD 250 has an empty weight of 6,500 lbs (or so the DMV told me). I have it registered to me personally for 24,000 lbs GCVW. This allows me to tow a trailer with a gross weight of 16,000 lbs plus a little buffer for fuel, junk in the truck, and what-not. Obviously, I still have to watch my axle weights on bigger trailers.

The information I've presented reflects only Federal guidelines. Any individual State or County may have more stringent laws. These are only the miminums! I highly recommend contacting your local DMV for State-specific information. Use this information at your own risk."

 

Here in minnesota im running about 24,500 at the most. They go by the tag on the truck, it reads 8600 so the truck can only weigh 8600 the rest must be carried on the trailer. My trailer grosses at 15,800 by that part of the tag got hit with a chain so i have no idea what it says i justs license it fir 17000 so in a sence I'm able to gross 25,600 because thats what i have license for. I look at it at least i wont get a ticket for being under license. But i also make sure my lights brakes saftey chains and tires are all in order everytime. And theres a whole other story about tying stuff down. If its under 10000lbs two chains two binders min rated for 50% or more of the load being held. Over 10000 4 chains 4 binders min rated for 50% or more of the load and these must be cross chained. And the chains must be g70 and have that g70 stamped in every link or they are only rated as proof coil by the dot.